A zero-emissions fleet benefits the community, riders, and employees by eliminating greenhouse gas emissions and improving the quality of our air. This rollout will also help WTA hit climate goals set by the City of Bellingham and Whatcom County’s Climate Action Plans and WTA 2040, as well as Washington State and the Federal government.

Yes! WTA has been operating 2 battery-electric buses (BEBs) since 2020. WTA has also received funding for 10 additional BEBs that will begin operation in 2023 (2 buses) and 2024 (8 buses).

As WTA transitions to a zero-emissions fleet, WTA is also trying to ensure that they get full value out of past investments and their existing fleet and comply with federal regulations. Typically fixed-route transit vehicles have a lifespan of 12 years and WTA plans to stop using diesel buses only at the end of their lifespan.

Bus manufacturers are also ramping up production of ZEBs as quickly as possible. Even if WTA was able to purchase only ZEBs, bus manufacturers would likely be unable to meet the supply needs. It currently takes two years for a bus manufacturer to build and deliver a ZEB after it receives an order.

Finally, BEBs do not yet have sufficient range to complete most of WTA’s routes. In a few years, industry experts believe that BEBs will have the range to be able to complete nearly all of WTA’s routes.

There are two types of zero-emissions buses, battery-electric buses (BEBs) and fuel-cell buses (FCEB). FCEBs use hydrogen as fuel, while BEBs use electricity. Most other transit agencies transitioning to zero-emission vehicles are currently purchasing BEBs, as hydrogen is currently expensive and hard to obtain.

What are the environmental benefits of transitioning to zero-emission buses?

Zero-emission buses are more environmentally friendly than diesel buses because they produce no harmful emissions during their operation. In contrast, diesel buses emit a range of pollutants into the air, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and other harmful compounds. As power generation becomes more green, zero-emissions vehicles will become greener as well.

Zero-emission buses are also quieter than diesel buses, which can help to reduce noise pollution and make for a more comfortable ride.

Yes, the type of electricity generation used to power electric buses does affect how ‘green’ a zero-emission bus is. The carbon footprint of battery electric buses largely depends on the way electricity is generated. Currently, Puget Sound Energy (WTA’s energy supplier) electricity is about 35% renewable, mandated by the state to be carbon neutral by 2030 and entirely renewable by 2045. Given PSE’s current energy mix, operating a battery-electric bus reduces per mile emissions by approximately 40% compared to diesel.

Currently, BEBs and FCEBs are significantly more expensive than purchasing diesel buses. As of winter 2023, diesel buses cost approximately $500,000, while BEBs cost $1.1M and FCEBs cost $1.25 million.

BEBs and FCEBs also require additional infrastructure to charge or fuel the buses. The cost of BEB infrastructure is expected to exceed $20 million.

However, operating costs for BEBs are typically lower than diesel buses because electricity is cheaper than diesel. The price difference between zero-emissions buses and diesel buses is expected to decrease as battery technology improves and economies of scale are achieved through increased production volumes. Additionally, federal and state incentives can help offset the upfront costs of purchasing or leasing zero-emissions buses, making them more financially feasible for WTA. To date, WTA has received over $15 million in state and federal funding to deploy their first BEBs.

The total cost of the transition is estimated to cost around $92 million more than continuing to purchase diesel buses over the next 15 years, which is 1 ½ the cost. Since WTA does not have nearly enough funding to meet these costs, we will have to rely heavily on state and federal grants if this transition is to occur.